Michigan Fires Coach Ellerbe

After four years at the helm of
Michigan's basketball program, Brian Ellerbe was forced out, the
athletic director said today.

"Brian took over this team in the midst of some trying times,
and we all realize the challenges he has faced. I considered this
during my evaluation of the team," Bill Martin said in a written
statement. He asked Ellerbe to step down Sunday.

"In the end, my decision was based on the fact that I did not
see the improvement in the program over the past four years that I
hoped for and that I believe is possible. I believe it is in the
best interests of our student-athletes and the basketball program
as a whole to have new leadership at this time."

Coach: I Performed With Integrity

In a statement obtained by the Detroit Free Press earlier in the
day, Ellerbe expressed his thanks for the opportunity to coach the
Wolverines.

"When I took this assignment, I knew our program faced several
issues that were left for us to deal with," Ellerbe said in the
statement on Free Press' Web site. "I also knew that returning the
program to competitive standards commensurate with Michigan's rich
athletic tradition would not be done overnight.

"I am confident I fulfilled the guidelines established by
president [Lee] Bollinger and Tom Goss by running our program with
integrity."

Search for Successor Begins

The Wolverines closed out a disappointing season with an 82-80
loss to Penn State in the Big Ten tournament. Michigan finished the
season at 10-18 overall and 4-12 in the Big Ten.

Martin said he will create a small advisory committee of former
and current players and staff to help evaluate potential
candidates.

On Monday, a source, who spoke to The Associated Press on
condition of anonymity, said the school would like to talk to Rick
Pitino, Kentucky's Tubby Smith, Oklahoma's Kelvin Sampson or Seton
Hall's Tommy Amaker.

Pitino, who left the Boston Celtics this year, is eyeing a
return to college basketball. He led Kentucky to the 1996 national
championship.

Was Race an Issue in Firing?

Michigan's fan base went from apathetic to angry and shouted,
"Fire Ellerbe," among other things, during games at Crisler Arena
this season. Newspaper columnists have written that it was time for
him to be fired.

Ellerbe went 62-60 in four years at Michigan. He was originally
hired to be an assistant coach, but he replaced Steve Fisher, who
was forced to leave when allegations that booster Ed Martin
lavished Wolverines with money and gifts became public.

Michigan will have to pay Ellerbe about $450,000 for the
remaining three years on his contract. The university will not have
to pay for income he will lose from camps, TV, radio, Internet and
endorsement deals, according to the terms of his contract.

Meanwhile, the president of the Detroit chapter of the National
Association for the Advancement of Colored People and other
community leaders have expressed concerns to University of Michigan
officials about the treatment of Ellerbe and whether it would be
fair to fire him.

The Rev. Wendell Anthony, president of the Detroit chapter of
the NAACP, sent a letter to Bollinger this week questioning whether
Ellerbe is being held to an unfair standard because he is black.

"My deepest, heartfelt thanks goes out to the many community
leaders and alumni who came forward in recent days to support me
and my program," Ellerbe said in the statement. "I cannot thank
you enough for your thoughts and expressions of concern."

In the statement, Ellerbe avoided any bitterness — or mention of
Martin.

"As for me," he said in closing, "I have tried to handle
myself with dignity and class through some very challenging times.
I look forward to receiving an opportunity to continue my career in
a game I truly love."